James Latta

Perhaps the principal difference between James Latta and most of the thousands of other immigrants who left Ireland for America in the 18th century was that James brought with him a bag of gold. At least, there is a persistent family tradition to that effect. It ties in with another tradition, to wit, that the first Latta did not come primarily for religious or political freedom but for material gain. James Latta was a citizen of Londonderry, North Ireland. Shortly after the upheaval of the American Revolutionary War had settled, James converted a large portion of his worldly goods into money and embarked to America with the gold pieces in a bag. He also brought along his small son Robert who weighed about the same as the gold. A terrific storm arose at sea. The captain ordered all cargo not essential to survival jettisoned..... James clutched his gold. He also clutched his son. He was torn between his loves. They weighed the same.

But at this point a ray of sunshine pierced the clouds. James was not forced to a decision and he arrived safely in America with both his sack and his scion for posterity. No one believes the heartless myth, of course, but it is frequently retold whenever his descendants recount his rise to fortune. There is one other incident associated with the storm. The immigrant later discovered that on the very night of his ordeal in the Atlantic his wife had departed this life in Ireland.

The few authenticated dates do not entirely invalidate the legend of the crossing. In his naturalization statement in 1812, James Latta stated that he "came into the United States of our Lord in 1785 and has continued therein ever since." One story has it that he came to America to settle the estate of his brother William and his father Robert in Lincoln County, NC, who had returned to Ireland and died there. However, if the storm at sea coincided with the death of Elizabeth Houston, his first wife, it occurred in 1792, so James must have returned to bring over his son Robert and his money. There was also a son William, older than Robert, and he also was eventually fetched, or found his way, to America. Both sons left descendants now widely scattered.

James Latta amassed a fortune as a traveling merchant. He and two other Scotch Irishmen, James Patton and Daniel McMahon of the Carolina back country usually traveled to Philadelphia, the mart at which they obtained their stock, together as the money bags they carried were attractive to robbers of which many waylaid the road. In unity they found strength. For mutual benefit, they divided up the territory for trade. Patton had the Spartanburg area on through the mountainous region of Buncombe County, NC. He became a very rich man. McMahon's rounds lay in the Union, Newberry, and Fairfield districts of South Carolina. Latta had York, Mecklenburg, Lincoln, and Rowan.

Gentlemen's styles of early 19th century

For years," relates Maurice Moore's Reminiscences of York, "court week invariably found Mr. Latta at Yorkville. On some planks laid across benches in the public square, his varieties were spread open for inspection of the crowd, among whom, of course, he found many purchasers. If the weather was inclement, a room at McCall's tavern furnished a shelter and convenient spot for his counter...."

In time, James built a store in Yorkville. This he turned over to his son Robert when he reached a man's estate and, like father like son, Robert made money. Eventually he became one of the "merchant princes" of South Carolina, with a home in Columbia, and was said to have possessed more actual money (the planters owned land and slaves) than anyone else in that state.

Robert, who is said to have resembled James

James Latta's best day's work in establishing himself in America was his marriage in 1796 (the bond is dated April 12) to Jane Knox, the daughter of Robert and Mary Ewart Knox of Lincoln County, NC. Jane associated the Lattas with the winning side in the American Revolution, a not unimportant distinction in the 18th century.

As early as March of 1799, James Latta was buying land on the east bank of the Catawba west of Hopewell Presbyterian Church. About this time or shortly thereafter, he built "Latta Place," a frame house with many interesting architectural features. Here he raised his second family, three daughters: Betsy, Nancy, and Polly. The girls were not only rich but also cultured, and quite naturally extremely popular. James had no intention of letting them marry poor men and tradition says the inside window at "Latta Place" from the hall into the parlor was cut so that he could keep an eye on gentlemen callers. There are interesting anecdotes of James' vigilance told in Dr. John B. Alexander's Early Settlers of Hopewell Section. To put it mildly, James was "cranky" on the subject of watching the boys who came to see his girls.....

Speight McLean and his cousin Joe McKnitt Alexander were boon companions and frequently went "courting" together. Late one rainy evening they drove up to Mr. Latta's and asked to spend the night. Mr. Latta conjured up the idea that the two gay Lotharios were preparing to run away with his girls, and not fancying either of them for a son-in-law, chained their carriage's wheels to a tree, and to be doubly sure, locked his guests in the garret.

Benjamin Wilson Davidson who built the handsome house on "Oak Lawn" plantation for her. Polly married James G. Torrance of "Cedar Grove." And Nancy, the youngest, married Major Rufus Reid who, after her death, married her sister Betsy, then the widow Davidson, and built the present "Mount Mourne" mansion, in the town of the same name, with his second wife. All three of the girls had families, although Polly Torrance's line is now extinct.

Their brother Ezekiel died when only 10 years old. If he had lived, he would have inherited the plantation, as stipulated in James Latta's will.

James Latta died on October 29, 1837, aged 82 years, 2 months, and 9 days, He had not been easy to live with but he left his widow wealthy. In addition to the 329 acres and servants at "Latta Place," he also left another plantation of 320 acres called the Moore Place, and an interest in a valuable fishery known as "Penny's."

His wife erected a handsome memorial to him in Hopewell Presbyterian churchyard. "Latta Place" was sold shortly after his death and Jane Knox Latta moved to Mount Mourne.

The first of the Lattas represents the determination, the ambition, and the acquisitiveness that were essential to the success of free enterprise in Mecklenburg's and the nation's beginnings.